Realisation of Self (1)

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Realisation of Self is the essence of our Scriptures. The origin of the Vedas cannot be measured by time. There has been no consensus on the age of the Vedas despite several research works. Even those religions that do not accept the Vedas agree on Its ancientness. Vedas are the air that God breathes. It is difficult to answer the question, which came first - the hen or the egg. There has to be someone who created the hen and the egg first. AND THAT IS GOD.

There cannot be several Gods in the universe. There cannot be a separate God for each religion, country, city, community and caste. There is only one God for every religion, every country and every community. As God is omnipresent every form of prayer reaches only Him, who is the Supreme.

Some opine that, bhakti, shraddha (eagerness), respect need not be displayed but is enough if felt within the heart. They go around stating that applying 'tilak', wearing japa mala, doing pradakshina (circumambulation), prostrating, doing puja and serving God and sadhus are needless rituals. They scoff at those who follow these practices questioning if only practice of these is bhakti. But in day-to-day life they refuse to recognize the policeman if he is not in his uniform. They send their children to school in uniforms but do not question if this is necessary to acquire knowledge. They show their obedience to their superiors by standing up without questioning if it not enough to feel the respect at heart. When they meet their friends they express their affection by shaking hands with them without thinking if this show of affection is necessary. They expect others to demonstrate their feelings of affection and feel hurt if they do not. As a token of their affection they bring gifts to their spouse, children and friends without questioning if such acts are necessary for expression of their affection. They expect others to come enquiring after them at times of distress or illness. They fail to think for a moment, if the grief or the pain will reduce because of others' enquiry. Generally, we are unable to bear others around us being happy while we are grief-stricken. All these only go to show that in our life we go around exhibiting our feelings - affection, friendship, obedience, joy and sorrow - through various actions. We expect others also to behave in similar fashion. Therefore, in reality, to think that bhakti, shraddha and respect need not be expressed outwardly is only deluding us.

What is the need to build several temples and worship the Lord, who is omnipotent, in the form of idols? That which is formless and nameless has taken several forms and names out of mere compassion. 'Rishi' means one who has seen the mantra directly. One who has seen the mantra directly means one who has seen God who is mantra swarupa (form of mantra). Just as one is reminded of a real hen on seeing a toy hen or a real cow on seeing a toy cow, the forms of God that we worship in temples now are those that were 'seen' and 'realised' by Maharishis by the power of their tapas (penance). The heat of the sun is spread all over, yet, when it is focused through a lens its intensity increases. Likewise, though God is omnipresent, the Maharishis have, by the power of their tapas, installed this divinity in temples, for the welfare of the future generation.

Even though we do not possess this capability, through sincere and devoted worship, we can at least safeguard that which has been installed by the Maharishis, for our own benefit and that of the future generation. Even if we do not look at God when we go to a temple, God will surely look at us. Won't He? That itself will do good to us. How can the respect, shraddha and devotion shown to these 'archaavataars' (God in the form of idols) in the temples deem to be that shown to God Himself? And the indifference shown becomes a sin? After all, these idols that stand as deities in the temples have come about in course of time only. Haven't they? They are also mere stones. What difference can there be, between the stones found in street corners or in the mountains and that found in those that stand as deities in temples?

Saints like Adi Sankara, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsar, Sri Ramana Maharishi were human beings. We are also human beings. But can we compare ourselves to them? Though they belonged to the human race man is worshiping them. This is because of the divinity exhibited in them. The same way the 'stones' in the temples possess the fire of divinity (God's Presence) in them. This 'Shakti' (power) in them can protect and also destroy the world. We have to bow down to them for this. Today, in the society, in political circle and even the atheists show respect to pictures and statues of their leaders by offering garlands to them and deem it to be that shown for their own leaders and thus feel happy. To exhibit their hatred towards those whom they dislike they burn their pictures and use various other demeaning ways. And the leaders are pleased with the respect shown to their statues and pictures as if shown to them. And are angered and feel insulted if any disrespect is shown to them. The respect or disrespect shown to the National flag is considered that shown to the Nation itself. While it is so in these cases then the respect shown to the idols of the omnipresent and omnipotent God is that shown to Him. Similar is any disrespect shown. So, we should in every possible way go on pilgrimage and worship God and earn His blessings. The other religions and many from amongst our own 'dharma' ridicule the existence of numerous gods in our religion. One should make deep study into an issue and make an honest attempt to understand the truth contained in it and not pass judgement based on a superficial view or hold that only our view is right. If the Maharishis, who, having truly renounced the world and with total control over their minds for a long period and as a result of their 'tapas' have found out something, then there has to be truth in it. It is not right to view them at the surface and comment on them. Nature consists of different kinds of animals, tress, plants, birds and languages. Mankind itself consists of crores of people. In this, the physical structure of any one is not similar to another. The way of talking or walking of any one is not the same as another. Even enjoyment varies from person to person. Another dislikes a story that one likes. One can point out such differences in all matters. All do not possess the same food or clothing habits, culture, or mental attitude. What appears to be just seems unjust to another. Some have a taste for idlis (rice cakes), some for chappatis, yet others for dosas. Thus there is a difference even in the taste for food. Even amongst those who like idlis some like to have it with chutney while others prefer sambar. So, no one human mind thinks like another. There are vast variations in the human minds. It is difficult to change this. With such differences one has to attain that (God) which does not vary. When the human mind is so diversified in everything, preaching only one god to all or one path to all can only result in collecting a crowd akin to a flock of sheep and no interest can be instilled in their minds. Hence, man cannot change his mental attitude and thus comprehend the limitless God. As God is omnipotent He comes down to the level of man. To one who is truthful and righteous He comes as Rama, to one who enjoys the divine plays as Krishna, to one who upholds brahmachariyam (celibacy), humility, devotion and service He appears as Hanuman and to one who possesses affection as towards a mother He comes as Devi (Goddess). To attain the limitless, all pervading Lord it has been set to worship Him as per his/her mental attitude.

A person desires to steal. But because of his fear for the rigid law of the country he abstains from stealing. However, as long as he entertains this thought to steal he will not become virtuous. So the law of the country has not reformed him. It has only petrified him. He will try to trick the law and steal. So, as long as the change does not come about in one’s mental attitude it cannot be deemed as a transformation. And any transformation that may come about will not be lasting. It is questioned why God does not instantly punish the wrong doers. That is, it is argued that one who steals should lose his hand immediately and one should become blind immediately if a crime has been committed with his eyes. But, God does not do so for the mere reason that any physical punishment without mental transformation will not serve the purpose. Moreover, if God were to execute such a system of justice then those who argue thus will themselves be devoid of all their organs! God is compassionate. That is why He desires us to reform and forbears all our faults.

One who is totally devoted to God will not be able to even think of the idols in the temples as mere metal or stone. When a mother looks at her child she will only enjoy its curly hair, beautiful eyes, mischievous talks and will not try to gauge as to how much bone weight or ounce of blood the child is made up of.

In the temples thus consecrated and installed with idols we find that the rules and regulations for the performance of puja varies from Kshetra to Kshetra (holy place) and from god to god. A doubt may arise as to which form of worship from amongst these is pleasing to God. All are proper. How? A mother instills certain types of habits in her child from its young age, including food habits and the child sticks to these till the end. In the same way Mahatmas have established certain system of puja for the gods that they had worshipped and as those gods have become used to that particular system of worship the same should be followed scrupulously. This is the reason for the birth of so many kinds of worship. Those who perform these pujas today may not be tapasvis of such high calibre. But one need not doubt if the divinity will diminish in these Kshetras. Devas, Kinnars, Siddha Purushas visit these temples built or consecrated by Mahans and perform puja with flowers, etc. Even if this is not visible to us it is visible to Mahans. So, divinity does not diminish in these Kshetras.

Next, God is worshipped through offerings such as rice, goat, hen, liquor, etc. The question may arise as to which of these is proper? All are. The mental make up of men is classified into three kinds, viz. sattvic, rajasic and tamasic. Those with sattvic nature offer things like rice, fruits, etc. in worship. Those with rajasic nature worship God with meat, etc. and those with tamasic nature worship Him with things such as liquor. Thus people are happy and contented only when they worship God with things that they themselves like. It is only to earn such mental peace/contentment that Aagama Shastras have laid down various rules for the construction of temples. The Rajagopuram (Tower) of such temples, even when viewed from a distance, fills the minds of people with peace. If this philosophy is understood and worship is conducted as per the regulations laid down in these temples then people will attain mental maturity and thus attain the highest goal.

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